The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1887-01-28
ARE THEY PROUD OF TIP

The Democratic party have been max
ing history for the past two years, ana
are they proud of the resultS Can they
point to the record with pride and chal-
lenge the support of the people for what
they have done? What wise measure or
public policy have they originated that
should inspire confidence in their mt
ness or capacity TO manage the puoiic
affairs of this great Republic? Upon what
act can they go before the people ana
ask them for another four years lease oil
power, with Grover Cleveland as their
standard bearer-the wolf in sheep
clothing, who, enveloped in his civil
service cloak, secured barely enough
mugwump votes to save his election TWO
wears ago. The Louisville Courier-Joa'-
nal says of him: "Mr. Cleveland seems
TO be a second edition of Andy Johnson.
He has neither the ability To carry all
before him, the flexibility to adapt HIM
self to circumstances, lacking the genius
to inspire men with confidence, or the
genialIty to attract them personally. He
believes he is right and honest and hav-
ing little experience in measuring ma
tional forces. he imagines that he Is suf-
ficient because he thinks he is. He has
contrived to array against himself most
of the powerful agents of Democratic
opinion in Congress, in the press and
over the country Mt large, and to make
himself for all his industry and economy
most unpleasing figure in the public
life and thought of the country. And
why is all this? Everybody engaged in
business, politics and journalism can not
have grudge and be instigated by som
small, mean personal motive to turn the
face darby upon this one meritorious
chieftain who has all the talent and all
the virtues of the times" That is very
truthful pen portrait, as far as it goes, OF
the great Democratic party, and drawn
too by one who has studied his sub
ject from Democratic standpoint, and
whose iron-clad Democracy nobody will
question. His whole two years course,
like the line of retreat of thoroug hly
routed, dispirited army, is strewn with
broken pledges and olighted hopes. This
man of vast conceit and little brain, OF
huge body and small mind, has signally
failed to originate or carry out a single
measure to which the Democratic party
can point with pride in the contest OF
1888. There has been no great Demo-
cratic rebellion put down and the Union
restored. No 100000 of human beings
emancipated from q state of bondage
and degradation that was disgrace to
the nation. The books have been opened
and cash counted, and all found correct,
and the financial policy of the Republic
an party continued, because Democratic
stupidity dare not and could not devise
change that was practicable or would
not at once sink the party out of sight.
The changes in the diplomatic service
have been discreditable to the party
Our minister at st. James is far better
fitted to assist Scion Chase in breaking
those steers than in discussing the fishery
or any other national question involyin &
our national honor, dignity or common
veal. Drunkard succeeds drunkard IN
Mexico and general unfitness character
ize our representatives in the South
American Republic. A Secretary OF
State whose qualifications for the place
rest solely upon ancestral reputation. A
Secretary Of the Navy whose only public
act worthy of public notice was his over
bearing brutality in his treatment OF
John Roach, which drove to poverty and
doubtless hurried to death a man whose
shoes the Standard Oil upstart was un
worthy to clean, and which was too IN
famous to inspire any feeling but con-
tempt in the minds of all lovers of just
ice, but with the backing of his senator
ial papa-in-law and the Standard Oil
monopoly he is solid with Grover. An
Attorney General who has yet done no.
thing worthy of public attention beyond
covering himself with pan electric filth
A Postmaster General that neither re-
CARDS the laws of Congress, the orders
of his superior, or the decencies that
should pertain to his position when there
is the slightest possibility of conflict
with his own selfish wishes or personal
ambition. A Secretary of the Interior
who allows Sparks with impunity to dis
grace the public land department by the
most outrageous decisions on public
land questions ever made in the United
States. A Commissioner of Pensions
whose principal efforts have been de.
voted to a vain effort to blackefi the of
fetal character of his predecessor. Fol
Two years President and his rebel
brigadiers and copperheads in Congress:
have steadily refused Dakota, with lar
ger population than any other two terri
tories had when admitted, admission II
the Union, simply and solely because i
is a Republican territory, and its adj
mission would strengthen the Republic
an party in Congress. For this reason
the Democracy have disgraced their par
ty by virtually declaring the people o
Dakota guilty of no crime or violation o
the laws of the United States, but shall
be coerced into voting the Democratic
ticket or remain in a territorial condi
ton while the Democrats control tn,
government. Can the Democratic part.
in 1888 point the voters of the countr.
with PRIDE to these acts of their frs
two years in power and ask approval o
their SYNONYMOUS record? Will the We
toes of pensions to soldiers by Presiden
Cleveland during the last session of Con
gress, or the refusal of the Democrats
Congress to grant a pension to the wifi
of Gen. Logan, after the generous exhi
bition ofnon-partizan care for the widow
and children of the brave Gen. Hancock
add lustre to the Democratic recorC
that they believe will challenge the ad
miration of the people OF this country o
inspire them with enthusiastic desire
for its continuance In power for anothe
term2 What have they done honorable
to the party or beneficial to the country
What act performed in the past that in
spires hope for the future?
GEN. FITz HUGH LEE, Governor ofVir
ginia, and party of friends, have BEEF
enjoying themselves in st. Paul and Min
neapolis during the week. The destin
..,,;ohol <,,,asto haua haap - nuallxy anfar